Necking apparatus support

ABSTRACT

Modular supports for supporting a plurality of necking-in stations and a plurality of transfer stations wherein each of the modular supports has a base that is releasably secured to an adjacent base, at least two spaced apart support columns; a first support plate supported on and secured to the at least two spaced apart columns for supporting a necking-in station and a second support plate secured to first support plate for supporting a transfer station.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/438,894now Pat. No. 5,533,826 filed May 10, 1995, which is hereby incorporatedby reference for all that is disclosed therein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the necking-in of tubular members,such as can body members, and more specifically to modular supports forunits of a necking-in apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the manufacture of tubular members, such as can body members, it isnecessary to neck-in the open end portion of the tubular member. Also,the number of times a tubular member must be passed through a necking-inoperation depends on the desired shape of the necked-in portion.Sometimes the desired shape can be obtained in one necking-in operationand other times the desired shape requires a plurality of necking-inoperations. Therefore, it is desirable to provide necking-in apparatusthat can be readily modified to provide for one or more neckingoperations. U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,714 provides necking-in apparatus inmodular form so that the necking-in apparatus can be modified to providefor one or more necking-in operations. Such modular apparatus require asupport that can readily be used to make the desired modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a plurality of modular supports so that thenumber of necking-in stations for a necking-in apparatus can be readilychanged.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention a plurality of modularsupports are arranged in a side-by-side relationship wherein each of theplurality of modular supports comprises a hollow elongatedlongitudinally extending base, each having at least a top wall, oppositesidewalls and opposite channel shaped end walls. The opposite sidewallsare secured to the ends of the channel shaped end walls and have spaceapart opening adjacent each end thereof. The top wall is secured to theopposite sidewalls and to the channel shaped end member. Releasablesecuring means are provided for releasably securing together theadjacent sidewalls of adjacent bases. At least two spaced apart supportcolumns are secured to and project from the top wall. A first elongatedlongitudinally extending support plate is supported on and secured tothe at least two spaced apart support columns and is used to support atleast one necking-in station. A second elongated longitudinallyextending support plate for supporting at least one transfer station issupported on at least a portion of the first elongated longitudinallyextending support plate and has a longitudinal extent substantially lessthan the longitudinal extent of the first elongated longitudinallyextending support plate. Support means are provided and comprise atleast two opposite sidewalls, two opposite end walls and a bottom wallsecured to and projecting from the second elongated longitudinallyextending support plate in a direction toward the hollow elongatedlongitudinally extending base. The opposite sidewalls have flangeportions that extend past the opposite end walls and have openingstherein so that the flange portions may be secured to at least one ofthe at least two spaced apart support columns by passing headed threadedbolts through the openings in the flange portions and securing them inthreaded openings in the one support column. A damaged can deflector isalso provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An illustrative and presently preferred embodiment of the invention isshown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view with parts in section and partsschematically illustrated;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of FIG. 1 with parts removed; and

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view taken from the left side of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, there is illustrated a modular support 2 for supporting aplurality of necking-in stations 4 comprising conventional apparatus forproviding a necked-in portion adjacent the open end of a can body and aplurality of transfer stations 6 comprising conventional transferapparatus for receiving unnecked-in can bodies transferring the canbodies through the necking-in stations and feeding the necked-in canbodies to a conveyor (not shown).

Each modular support 2 has a hollow elongated longitudinally extendingbase 10 having a top wall 12, opposite sidewalls 14 and 16, bottom wall17 and opposite channel shaped end walls 18. The opposite sidewalls 14and 16 are secured to the opposite ends of the channel shaped end walls18 by suitable means such as by welding. The top wall 12 includes aplate 12a mounted thereon with opposite end portions thereof superposedover the associated sidewalls 14 and 16. The top wall 12 is secured tothe opposite sidewalls 14 and 16 and the channel shaped end walls 18 bysuitable means, such as by welding. Each of the opposite sidewalls 14and 16 have spaced apart openings 20 adjacent to the end portionsthereof so that adjacent bases 10 may be joined together by nuts andbolts 22 passing through the openings 20. Each base 10 has two vibrationabsorbing pads 24 which are secured to the opposite channel spaced endwalls 18 by a threaded projection 26 passing through openings in thelower leg of the channel shaped end walls 18 and secured thereto bythreaded nuts 28 for supporting each base 10 on a fixed surface 29. Thechannel shaped end walls 18 are preferably made from a mild steel havinga thickness of about 0.50 inch. The top wall 12 and the sidewalls 14 and16 are preferably formed from a mild steel having a thickness of about1.00 inch.

A pair of spaced apart support columns 30 and 32 have four sidewalls 34secured to each other in a right angular relationship by suitable means,such as by welding. The sidewalls 34 are preferably formed from a mildsteel having a thickness of about 0.05 inch. Each of the support columns30 and 32 project upwardly from the plate 12a and are secured thereto bysuitable means, such as by welding. First elongated longitudinallyextending support plates 36 are supported by the support columns 30 and32 and are secured to them by suitable means, such as by welding. Thenecking-in stations 4 are mounted on the first elongated longitudinallyextending support plates 36. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the firstelongated a longitudinally extending support plates 36 have longitudinalextent less than the longitudinal extent of the top walls 12.

Second elongated longitudinally extending support plates 40, having alongitudinal extent less than the longitudinal extent of the firstelongated longitudinally extending support plates 36, are mounted on andsecured to the first elongated longitudinally extending support plates36 using a straight splice joint 42 and threaded bolts 44. Opposite endwalls 46 and opposite sidewalls 48 are joined together in a right anglerelationship by suitable means, such as by welding and to each of thesecond elongated longitudinally extending supports 40 by suitable means,such as by welding. A bottom wall 50 is secured to the end walls 46 andsidewalls 48 by suitable means, such as by welding. Each of thesidewalls 48 have flange portions projecting outwardly pass the endwalls 46 so that the sidewalls 48 can be secured to the sidewalls 34 bysuitable means, such a threaded bolts 52 passing through openings in theflange portions and threaded into threaded openings in the sidewalls 34.The first and second elongated longitudinally extending support platesare preferably formed from a mild steel having a thickness of about 1.50inches.

A damaged can body deflector having a angle shaped top wall 60 andopposite sidewalls 62 and 64 is secured to facing sidewalls 34 bysuitable means, such as by welding to deflect damaged can bodies fallingfrom the transfer stations 6 into the space 66.

While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the inventionhave been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that theinventive concepts may be otherwise variously embodied and employed andthat the appended claims are intended to be construed to include suchvariations except insofar as limited by the prior art.

What is claimed:
 1. A method of supporting at least one necking-instation and at least one transfer station on a modular support,comprising the steps of:providing a hollow elongated longitudinallyextending base having at least a top wall, opposite sidewalls andopposite end walls; securing at least two spaced apart support columnsto said top wall; supporting a first elongated longitudinally extendingsupport plate having a longitudinal extent on said at least two spacedapart support columns; supporting at least one necking-in station onsaid first elongated longitudinally extending support plate; providing asecond elongated longitudinally extending support plate having alongitudinal extent substantially less than the longitudinal extent ofsaid first elongated longitudinally extending support plate; supportingsaid second elongated longitudinally extending support plate on at leasta portion of said first elongated longitudinally extending supportplate; supporting at least one transfer station on said second elongatedlongitudinally extending support plate; providing support meanscomprising at least two opposite sidewalls, two opposite end walls and abottom wall; securing said support means to said second elongatedlongitudinally extending support plate such that said support meansprojects in a direction toward said hollow elongated longitudinallyextending base; and securing at least one of said opposite sidewalls ofsaid support means to at least one of said at least two spaced apartsupport columns.
 2. A modular support for supporting at least onenecking-in station and at least one transfer station comprising;a hollowelongated longitudinally extending base; said hollow elongatedlongitudinally extending base having at least a top wall, a bottom wall,opposite sidewalls and opposite end walls; a plate mounted on said topwall; support structures projecting from and secured to said plate; afirst elongated longitudinally extending support plate having alongitudinal extent for supporting said at least one necking-in station;said first elongated longitudinally extending support plate beingsupported on and secured to said support structures; a second elongatedlongitudinally extending support plate for supporting said at least onetransfer station; and additional support structures having at least aportion thereof secured to at least a portion of said support structuresfor supporting said second elongated longitudinally extending supportplate.
 3. The modular support as in claim 2 wherein:said secondelongated longitudinally extending support plate having a longitudinalextent substantially less than the longitudinal extent of said firstelongated longitudinally extending support plate; said additionalsupport structures comprising at least two opposite sidewalls and twoopposite end walls secured to and projecting from said second elongatedlongitudinally extending support plate in a direction toward said hollowelongated longitudinally extending base; and at least one of saidopposite sidewalls being secured to said at least a portion of saidsupport structures.
 4. The modular support as in claim 3 wherein saidsupport structures comprise:two spaced apart support structures and;each of said two spaced apart support structures having at least a firstpair of opposite sidewalls and at least a second pair of oppositesidewalls.
 5. Modular supports for supporting a plurality of necking-instations and a plurality of transfer stations comprising:a plurality ofmodular supports in a side-by-side relationship; each of said pluralityof modular supports comprising:a hollow elongated longitudinallyextending base; said hollow elongated longitudinally extending basehaving at least a top wall, a bottom wall, opposite sidewalls andopposite end walls; a plate mounted on said top wall; support structuresprojecting from and secured to said plate; a first elongatedlongitudinally extending support plate having a longitudinal extent andbeing supported on and secured to said support structures for supportingat least one of said plurality of necking-in stations; a secondelongated longitudinally extending support plate for supporting at leastone of said plurality of transfer stations; and additional supportstructures having at least a portion thereof secured to at least aportion of said support structures for supporting said second elongatedlongitudinally extending support plate.
 6. The modular supports as inclaim 5 and further comprising:releasable securing apparatus forsecuring together at least a portion of said additional supportstructures to said at least a portion of said support structures; andadditional releasable securing apparatus for releasably securingtogether said hollow elongated longitudinally extending bases ofadjacent ones of said plurality of modular supports.
 7. The modularsupport as in claim 6 wherein:said second elongated longitudinallyextending support plate having a longitudinal extent substantially lessthan the longitudinal extent of said first elongated longitudinallyextending support plate; said additional support structures comprisingat least two opposite sidewalls and two opposite end walls secured toand projecting from said second elongated longitudinally extendingsupport plate in a direction toward said hollow elongated longitudinallyextending base; and at least one of said opposite sidewalls beingsecured to said at least a portion of said support structures.
 8. Themodular support as in claim 7 wherein said support structurescomprise:two spaced apart support structures; and each of said twospaced apart support structures having at least a first pair of oppositesidewalls and at least a second pair of opposite sidewalls.
 9. Themodular supports as in claim 8 and further comprising:a deflection plateextending between and secured to each of said at least two spaced apartsupport structures.
 10. The modular supports as in claim 8 and furthercomprising:at least two vibration absorbing pads secured to said hollowelongated longitudinally extending bases in spaced apart relationshipalong the longitudinally extending center line thereof.
 11. The modularsupports as in claim 8 wherein said releasable securing meanscomprises:flange portions on each of said opposite sidewalls of saidadditional support structures projecting past said opposite end wallsand having spaced apart openings formed therein; said at least twospaced apart support structures having a plurality of spaced apartthreaded openings formed therein; and a headed threaded bolt passingthrough each of said openings in said flange portions and threadedlysecured in one of said threaded openings.
 12. The modular supports as inclaim 11 wherein said additional releasable securing means comprise;eachof said opposite end walls of said base having a C-shaped transversecross-sectional configuration with the open portion facing outwardly;each of said opposite end walls of said base having opposite endportions; each of said opposite sidewalls of said base secured to saidopposite end portions; each of said opposite sidewalls of said basehaving spaced apart openings formed therein and located in said C-shapedportion of said opposite end walls of said base; and fastening meanspassing through said openings in adjacent sidewalls to secure adjacentbases together.
 13. Modular supports for supporting a plurality ofnecking stations and at least one transfer station comprising:at least afirst modular support and a second modular support in a side-by-siderelationship; each of said at least a first modular support and a secondmodular support comprising: a base portion; a plurality of supportcolumns projecting from and secured to said base portion; at least onenecking station supported by said plurality of support columns; whereinthe base portion of said first modular support is secured to the baseportion of said second modular support.
 14. The modular supports as inclaim 13, wherein:the base portion of said first modular support isreleaseably secured to the base portion of said second modular support.15. The modular supports as in claim 13, wherein:each of said at least afirst modular support and a second modular support comprises two supportcolumns.
 16. The modular supports as in claim 15, wherein:said supportcolumns are spaced from one another.
 17. The modular supports as inclaim 13, wherein:said base portion is hollow and has at least a topwall, opposite sidewalls and opposite end walls.
 18. The modularsupports as in claim 13 wherein:said base portion extends in a generallyhorizontal direction.
 19. The modular supports as in claim 13wherein:said base portion has a generally rectangular cross-sectionalconfiguration.
 20. The modular supports as in claim 13 wherein:at leastone of said plurality of support columns has at least a first pair ofopposite sidewalls and at least a second pair of opposite sidewalls. 21.The modular supports as in claim 13 and further comprising:a pluralityof vibration absorbing supports secured to said base portion. 22.Modular supports for supporting a plurality of necking stationscomprising:at least a first modular support and a second modular supportin a side-by-side relationship; each of said at least a first modularsupport and a second modular support comprising:a substantially hollowbase portion; at least one support column projecting upwardly from saidbase portion; and at least one necking station supported by said atleast one support column; and wherein said first modular support issecured to said second modular support.
 23. The modular supports as inclaim 22, wherein;the base portion of said first modular support issecured to the base portion of said second modular support.
 24. Themodular supports as in claim 22, wherein:the base portion of said firstmodular support is releaseably secured to the base portion of saidsecond modular support.
 25. The modular supports as in claim 22,wherein:each of said at least a first modular support and a secondmodular support comprises two support columns.
 26. The modular supportsas in claim 25, wherein:said support columns are spaced from oneanother.
 27. The modular supports as in claim 22, wherein:said baseportion has at least a top wall, opposite sidewalls and opposite endwalls.
 28. The modular supports as in claim 22 wherein:said base portionextends in a generally horizontal direction.
 29. The modular supports asin claim 22 wherein:said base portion has a generally rectangularcross-sectional configuration.
 30. The modular supports as in claim 22wherein:said at least one support column has at least a first pair ofopposite sidewalls and at least a second pair of opposite sidewalls. 31.The modular supports as in claim 22 and further comprising:a pluralityof vibration absorbing supports secured to said base portion.